Apparatus for placing washers on heel-mold pins



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. D. KMENTT APPARATUS FOR PLACING WASHERS ON HEEL MOLD PINS Filed March 5,

Sept. 8, 193-1.

Sept. 8, 1931.v '4 w. D. KMENTT 1,822,099

APPARATUS FOR FLACING WASHERS ON HEEL MOLD PINS Filed March 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLLJ W Y Sept. 8, 1931. w. D. KMENTT 1,822,099

APPARATUS FOR PLACING lWASHERS ON HEEL MOLD PINS Filed March 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 8, 16931 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE WALI'JEMAIR. D. KMENTT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOYTHE B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR PLACING WASHERS ON HEEL-MOLD PINS Application led March 5, 1929. Serial No. 344,281.

This invention relates to apparatus for placing washers upon the pins of a mold for rubber heels, and comprises certain new and useful improvements in automatic mechanism for feeding the washers from a hopperA plication to molds of all sizes and to molds.

havingvarious arrangements and sizes of pins thereon; to provide apparatus whichl will deposit but one washer on each mold pin; toprovide means for preventing washers from jumping oif the mold pins as they are deposited thereupon; and in general to provide an' apparatus for the purpose mentioned which in construction and operation will be superior to devices heretofore provided for the same purpose.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through apparatus embodying my invention in its preferred form. Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of washer-placing tool.

Fig. 5 is a reverse plan view of the tool shown in Fig. V4.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a tool and a mold pin as the saine are positioned at the initial phase of a washer-placing operation.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 6, on a larger scale, showing successive phases of a washer-placing operation, including the final phase.

As shown inFig. 1, the invention comprises a mold carrier, means forV placing washers upon the pins of a mold on said carrier, and a hopper for supplying the washerplacing means with properly arranged washers. The details of the mold carrier and the hopper are not a part of the present invention, the hopper being a part of the subjectmatter ofmy earlier invention, Patent No. 1,501,492, of July 15, 1924.

Referring to the drawings, thel apparatus comprises a framework 0r table 10, which is provided at its opposite sides with elongated journal brackets 11, 11, rupon which are journaled respective horizontal rows of idler rolls 12, 12, adapted between them to support mold members such as the mold member 13 by engagement with their opposite marginal portions, Also journaled in suitable bosses formed on the brackets 11, above the idler rolls 12, are respective horizontal rows of shafts 14, 14, upon the inner ends of which are mounted respective friction-surfaced drive rolls 15, 15 adapted to engage thetop surface of the mold member 13 to propel -it over the idler rolls 12. The outer ends of the shafts 14 are provided respectively with gears 16, 16, which are meshed with intermediate gears 17, 17 mounted upon respective stub shafts on the brackets 11, the

arrangement being such that allthe drive v rolls 15 may be concurrently driven in the same direction.

, The drive rolls 15, shafts 14, and gears 16,17 are omitted in the region of the apparatus where washers are placed upon the mold pins,to provide space for the washerplacing mechanism. For driving the respective series offdrive rolls 15 on opposite sides of the apparatus, the Vgears 17, 17 at each side Y of the gap in-each series, at the washer-placing zone, are provided with'sprockets 18, 18, and sprocket chains 19, 19 connect the respective pairs of sprockets 18 with respective sprockets, such as the sprocket 20, Fig. 1, `mounted upon the opposite ends of a countershaft 21. The latter is journaled in suitable brackets, such as the bracket 22, beneath they `table 10 and is provided with a sprocket 23 connected by a sprocket chain 24 with a suitable source of driving power (not shown).

Rising from the respective brackets 11, at`

'shaft k21. Preferably a clutch (not shown),

manually operable by a shipper lever 26a, is provided between the shaft 26 and the sprocket chain 27 to permit rotation of the shaft 26 to be stopped while other driven parts of the machine continue to operate. |The shaft 2G supports the washer-placing mechanism and a hopper or magazine 29 adapted;

to receive a charge of washers 30, 30 in bulk or chance arrangement, the washers being of the frustoconical type commonly used in molded shoe heels. The floor 29n of the hopper 29 slopes downwardly toward its front end, and its top face is formed with a series of parallel, undercut guide-tracks or grooves, such as the groove 3l, F ig. l, extending rearwardly from its front margin to a central portion of the licor, thenumber of grooves corresponding to the number of washer-placing tools to be provided.

ln lieu of a front wall, the hopper 29 is Aprovided with a rotary drum 32, the periphery of which is disposed close to t-lie floor 29a, over the grooves 31 therein, so that the latter provide the only exit from the hopper for the washers 30. rThe body of the drum 32 is formed `with radial webs or spokes 34, 34, whereby its peripheral portion is connected with its hub portionon the shaft 2G, and the periphery of the drum is longitudinally slotted throughout its length at 35,35 at three equidistant points to foringuide apertures oi` slots, through which are radially reciprocated a series of three blades or paddles 3G, attached to respective bars 37, which are mounted in guideways formed in the spokes 34. The ends of these blades are provided with studs 33 occupying a pair of similar cam grooves, such as the cain groove 39, Fig. l, formed in Va stationary vplate 25a, which forms a closure for one endl of the drum 32, said plate being secured in any suitable manner to the side wall of the hopper, or comprising an integral part thereof.

The major portion of each cani groove '3F is made approximately circular. concentric with the shaft 26, to hold the bladesl3G retracted within the periphery of the drum throughout the major portion of their orbit. The minor portion of the cam groove 39, toward the rear ofthe hopper, is radially er; tended to project each blade successively in an upward or backward sweep in the .hopper, the direction of rotation of the drum being counter-clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. The arrangement is such that the blades Y36 sweep the washers 30 backward away from the lentrances to the respective grooves 31 sothat as the washers y series.

, ends.

Ajecting from the l shaped Secured to the :lower portion of the hopper 29, at opposite sides thereof, are brackets 40, 40, which extend obliqiiely downward and have their lower ends connected by an integral L-sliaped plate 4l, which is disposed transversely of the table l0 somewhat above the same. Y Adjacent the lower margin of the iioor 29a of the hopper, the brackets 40 support a nonrotatable shaft or bar 42, upon which are swiveled a plurality of washerplacing tools or lingers, generally designated 43, 43, which extend obliquely downward toward the work aiidliave their delivery ends deteriiiiiiately positioned adjacent thereto. Y

Each of the tools 43 is arranged for lim ited lateral movement -at `its `delivery end, as will be more fully rdescribed hereinafter, and the tools are so positioned laterally that they slightly overlap each Yother in their ability to engage mold pins passing their delivery ends. rllie arrangement is such that all mold pinspassing the delivery ends of the tools 43 will receive washers therefroiii, whatever the position or height of the pins on the mold member. y l

The hub portions of the tools 43 aie relatively narrow, which permits a relatively great number of tliein to be mounted on the shaft 42 in laterally abutting relation.` The delivery ends of the tools 43 are wider than their hub portions, and in order that each tool may function `without interference from adjacent tools, said tools are iliade to di lier.n ent lengths and arranged in several series` herein shown as three, which series are so intercalated that there is relatively wide spacing between adjacent tools oin -a series and between the delivery ends of the several Y lie arrangement permits the use of a Ylarge number of tools, permits them `to pvot freely'upon the shaft 42, permits latioe eral V'moveinent'of their delivery ends with- A out interference from adjacent tools, and permits such close positioning of the tools .that they overlap each otherv in their ability to engagemold pins passing 'their delivery The lower ends of the tools 43 preferably are` positioned slightly above the upper surface of the mold memberl3, yet close enough thereto to be engaged by mold pins 44, 44 rising from said mold member, the tools being yieldingly urged downwardly towardthe mold member `by respective tension springs 45, 45 which are connected to the under side of the tools and to respective studs 46 proplate 41. Respective adjustment bolts 47, 47 are threaded through the plate 4l and engage the under sides. of the tools 43 for positioning the lower ends of the latter withrelation to a mold member 13.r Since the pins 44 may vbe of different heights oii-dierent molds, tlierends of the tools 43 are positioned,suflicently 'close 53. The arrangement is such that angular to the-mold member/13 to 'engage the shortest-pins.Y f Y l Each of the brackets 40 -is formed with two recesses .48,49 arranged lon an arc concentric with the shaft 26, saidjrecesses being adapted alternatively to receive the end of a studbold 50 threaded through the adjacent bracket 25. The arrangement is such that when the bolt 50 is seated in the recess 43 the tools-43 occupy their operative positions as shown in Fig. 1, yet permits the brackets 40 to be swung about the shaft 26 and the bolt inserted in the recess 49 to hold the tools in an elevated, substantially horizontal, inoperative position.

The top face of each washer-placing tool 43 is formed with an undercut guide-'track or groove 51, and the grooves inthe respective tools are coincident or longitudinally aligned with the series of grooves-31 in the floor 29a of the hopper 29 andare adapted to receive a file of washers issuing from the latter. A bridge member 52 is mounted in each of the tools 43 at the hinge end thereof, spanning the gap between the tool and the adjacent margin of the hopper floor 29a, and having its upper edge flush with the bottom of the groove 51, the function of the bridge member being to carry Vwashers from the groove 31 across said gap to the groove 51.

Each washer-placing tool 43 is articulated adjacent its lower or delivery end to'provide limited lateral movement thereat, the construction being clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The laterally movable portion of the tool comprises a -member 53, which is mounted upon the lower end portion of the tool 43 and extends beyond the end thereof, the member 53 being formed with a tongue portion 53a, which its within a complemental slot 43a in the tool 43 and 'is pivotally secured therein by a stud -54 extending through an underlying portion of the tool 43 and threaded into the tongue 53a. The under side of the member 53 is recessed at 53h, and the adjacent upper face of the tool 43 is similarly recessed at 43", and a compression spring 55 is mounted in said recesses, upon a pin 56 mounted in the member 53, in such a manner as to intersect the` meeting plane of the membersV 43,

movement of the member 53 upon its pivot 54 is yieldingly resisted by the spring 55, which normally serves to keep the members 43, 53 in longitudinal alignment.

The upper face of each member 534 is formed with a longitudinal, undercut, washer-guiding groove 57, and said groove is normally aligned with the similarl groove 51 of the tool 43. The length of the groove 57 preferably is an even multiple of the diameter of a washer 30, so that the grooves 57, 51 adjoin each other between two washers to permit unobstructed angular movement 'of the member 53. At the lower end of the member 53 the overhanging flanges of the groove 57 are cut away, as shownat 58, 58, Fig. 4, to

provide an exit,-substantially ofthe size of ak washer, between the ends of said flanges and a pair of abutments 58a, `58a formed at the end of the member 53. VThe floor of the groove 57 at the eXtreme end of the member' 53 is formed with an oblique counter-bore 59, which at its rear is of substantially the same depth as the thickness of the metal of a washer,the front margin of the counter-bore being disposed substantially flush with the eX- tended floorof the groove 57. Said counterbore is adapted to receive the lowermost washer of the file of washers 30, 30 in the groove 57. Y

On the under side of the member. 53, the recess 53b is carried toward the nose of the member, and its lateral walls or flanges 60, 60 provide means for engaging mold pins 44 on a mold member 13. The flanges 60, adj acent the nose of the member, converge toward each other andterminate at each side of a substantially V-shaped slot 61 nearthe'end thereof, said slot extending into the member 53 from the free end thereof to a point in line with the hole in the lowermost washer in the groove 57. The foot of the member 53 at each side of the Aslot 61 is of increased thicknessas shown at 62, to causethe-tool to ride upon and over mold pinswhich have washers thereon to prevent the depositing of more than one washer uponv each mold pin, the tool being thereby elevated so that the mold pin will not engage the lowermost washer therein.

Secured to the top face of the member v53, a short distance from the lower end thereof, are a pair of leaf springs 63, 64 constituting escapement mechanism, of which the latter is'of greater lenggth and is. superposed upon the spring 63. oth springs are arcuate in form, with their concave sides facing the file of washers, the-spring 64 having the the shorterl radius and standing clear of the spring 63 except at the end portions of the latter. The length of the spring 63 is such that its free end portion is disposed over theholein the lowermost washer of the file of washers in the groove 57, and said end portion normally stands clear of said lowermost' washer when the overlying spring 64 is raised. The spring 64 bears upon the end portion of the spring 63 `to urge the latter toward the file of washers, andthe end portion of thespring 64 is bent in a reverse curve over the end of the spring 63 and terminates in iat portion 64a, which is disposed substantially parallel to the member 13.

In the operation of the apparatus, a charge of the washers 30 'is placedin the hopper 29, and the shaft 21 is-driven to rotate thedrum 321 and thereby to agitate and periodically backsweep the washers'so-that properly poplane of the mold sitioned washers will'passintol the grooves 3l of the hopper and flow byi gravity' therefrom5-through the` grooves 51 of the tools 43, to the delivery ends of the latter, where the lowermost washersrest in they: Counter-bores '59 therein. :The-drive rolls-lalso are driven from t'hefshaft 2l, so thatfamold memberl supported upon! the idler rolls l2 will befed forwardthereoverandthe moldpins 44 on thevmold member carried 'into' engagement with the delivery ends-of the Washer-placing tools43. As hereinbefore stated, the tools 43 areso closely-spaced laterally that Vthey overlap each other in their-ability toengage mold pins, so'thatevery mold pin 44 will be engaged by at least one of the tools. A pin first engagesa toolV on the under side of the tool member `-fin the extension of its recess 53b between thefflanges GO'where the latter 'are parallel t0 eachother, and if the pin is disposed ateither-side of the center line of the tool-it will, upon engagement with the converging 1portions of -said flanges, cause the member 53 to swing upon 'its vaxis 54, as shown in Fig.` 4,'1andthereby bring the slot 6l in said membeivinto -alignment with the pm.

"Asshown inFig. '6, the top ofthe pin 44 is higher than the closedlend of the slot 6l when the'toolis innormal inoperative position, so that in engaging the tool and moving toward said slot thepin raises? the free end of the tool, asshown in'Fig. 7 against the tension ofthe spring V45, the toolpivoting about its shaft42. Thus, as the'moving pin 44 passes into the slot 61, the tool drops,"as shown in Fig. 8,and the washer 30 in the counter-bore 59 of thetool stri-kes the' pin 44 in-the manner shown in front of the holein said washer, the lfront end of the latter thereby being lifted above the level of the abutments 58a, against the pressure of the springs 63, 64, whilethe rearfend of thewashe'r pivots about its margin assaidmargin is held down by the overlying succeeding washer.

.The provision of the counter-bore 59, which permits the succeeding washer to overlieithetrailing edge of the leading washer, causes the washer engaged bya mold pin to assume a substantially horizontal position thereon before it is completely withdrawn fromthe tool, so that it dropseasily and quickly uponthe moldpin and thereafter is not veasily dislodged therefrom.

Continuedmovementof the pin 44 draws the washerfrom'the end of the tool, as shown in F ig.9,` the flat endpo'rtion 64a of thespring 64' forcing the washer ontolthepin and then remaining in Contact with'the end of the pin to prevent the washer from umping oif. As the washeris withdrawn from the tool,'the file ofwashers iin Ythe toolY moves forward by gravity and thefleading washer of the file V=moves into the counter-bore 59 and against fthe fabutments 585: before the spring 64 is disengaged :tromA the pin44. LAiy-tendency of the leading washer of the ile-tofollow the preceding washer outofA the tool,"or to do otherwise than Ymove intoZ the counterbore, isopposed by? the spring 63. The oblique-arrangement ef the counter-'bore 5915ermitsthe leading edge -ofl af washer to drop thereilnto' without suchr elevation of-its' t'railing edge as would per-mit the succeeding washerto move under said trailing'edge.

`My invention maybe modified :within the scope of the appended* claims.

-I claim:

1. i In apparat-us'for placing ywashers on heel mold pins, the combinati'n'of aY plurality ofwasher-placing tools so arranged that their mold-pinenga'ging -zones normally overlap each' other in' a serieslwhich traverses the course ofia heelmold,*and-' means for supplying said-tools with washers.

v2. Apparatus 'as defined in claim l1, in which the washer-supplyingmechanism comprises-a hopper common to the several tools.

3. Inv apparatus lfor placing washers on heel moldpins, the combination off-a plurality' of pivota-lly mounted washereplacing tools arranged in a series which traverses the course'of a heel mold, a supportupon which said toolsare co-a'xially mounted, and= means for feeding'washersfto said tools.

VA4. 'In apparatus for placing washers on heel mold pins, the combination 'of aplurality of pivotally mounted*washer-placing tools arranged in several spaced'apart'series which traverse the course of a heelimold, a common pivotal'support'for 4all of said tools, andmeansfor? feeding washers to'said tools.

5. Apparatus las defined in -claim 4, in which thewasher-feeding means comprises 3a single hopper.

6. In apparatus for placing 'washers on heel mold pins, the combination of awasherplacing t'ool comprising a washer guiding member'suspended `=from` its upper end and articulated at a point remotethe'refrom, and means'for supplying the same with washers.

7. In apparatusof the character described, the combination of a washer-placing 'tool comprising a washer Yguidingmembrsuspended from its upper 'end and articulated at 4a point` remote therefrom, yielding means normally maintaining the're'sp'ectivefparts'of said member in longitudinalalignment, and means for supplying the to'ol with washers.

8. Apparatus as defined =in claim '7, vin which the tool is 'pivot'ally mounted.

9. yIn apparatus ofthe vcharacter'described, the combinati on 'of 'a plurality 'f pivo'tally mounted,y washer-placingtools ea'chfcomprising a washer guiding member articulated'fr lateral displacement, -a single supporting member upn'whichsaid tools are'coaxially mounted, and means foi-feeding washers to the tools. Y

f10.fln .apparatus f -the 4character ideles lill:

scribed, the combination of a Washer-placing tool formed with av Washer-guiding groove therein and articulated Within the extent of said groove, means for feeding Washers into one end of said groove, and mechanism at the other end of said groove for yieldingly retaining a Washer.

11. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a Washer-placing tool comprising a Washer guiding member articulated near its delivery end and formed With a groove therein, and yielding means normally closing the delivery end of said groove.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a Washer-placing tool formed with a Washer-guiding'groove therein, said groove being so formed with a counterbore at the delivery end thereof that a Washer at that end of said groove is partly overlain by the succeeding Washer in said groove, and yielding means normally closing the delivery end of the groove.

13. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a Washer-placing tool formed with a washer-guiding groove, said groove terminating in a counter-bore adapted to accommodate the leading Washer of a file of Washers in the groove, and a spring normally llaring against the Washer in said counter- 14. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a Washer-placing tool formed therein with a guiding groove for a file of washers, and escapement mechanism at the delivery end of said groove comprising a yielding member adapted to engage the leading Washer of the iile as it is Withdrawn from the groove, and a yielding member for concurrently engaging the succeeding Washer of the le, the yielding members being adapted jointly to retain the leading Washer of the file when no Washers are being Withdrawn therefrom.

15. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a Washer-placing tool formed with a Washer-guiding groove, said groove terminating in a counter-bore adapted to accommodate the leading Washer of a file of Washers in said groove, and a pair of springs normally bearing against the Washer in said counter-bore and adapted, as said leading washer is withdrawn, to engage respectively said leading Washer and the Washer succeeding it.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd da of March, 1929.

WAL EMAR D. KMENTT. 

